Chapter 153: Free-For-All

"Alright, so is this decided now?" Lu Zhen said as he looked around.

"This..." the small family patriarchs and ancestors all had a difficult expression on their faces when they heard this.

Although they might have some winning chances if one fought one versus one—after all, not every person in the four major families was overwhelmingly strong—however, a free-for-all fight would undoubtedly eliminate that possibility.

Their descendants had endured enough just to be able to participate in the tournament, as a small qualifying match was conducted between the smaller families to earn a chance to participate. They were given a limited number of seats, and the competition was fierce, determining the rise of the family.

Now, with Lu Zhen imposing these rules, it meant that their chances of even making it to the top ten were slim. Reality was often cruel to the weak.

"Yes, it is decided then," Lu Zhen nodded to himself expressionlessly as he returned to his place with a casual jump, leaving his footprint on the ground.

Although Lu Zhen knew this was cruel to the smaller families, it was their fate for being weak. He internally reminded himself to be strong and keep getting stronger, or he could end up like these small families, suffering injustice.

Jiang Xue was stunned by it; however, maintaining her composure, she started speaking about the important part which was already determined from the four major families.

"The first place will have 28% of the rights to the inheritance ground, second will have 10%, third will have 5%, and..." she continued, but the small families' ears were perked up, listening to the rewards carefully. However, the descendants of the four major families already knew this from their respective ancestors, so they pretty much ignored the explanation.

"So the tournament begins." However, Jiang Xue had an awkward face as she looked at the platform, which was too small for a free-for-all.

"I will help Lu Zhen out a bit," Ancestor Lu thought as he sat up from his seat.

Seeing this, all three of them frowned but didn't say anything as they remained vigilant, carefully looking at him with suspicion.

Ancestor Lu casually made a lifting motion, causing everyone to widen their eyes in shock.

Boom!

The ground made cracking noises as the entire platform separated from the ground, lifted into the air, and went up before remaining in a stationary position, as if it was being carried by a giant hand.

The platform remained stationary in the air as it gradually expanded, turning entirely black as if made of obsidian in the process.

"Ho," Ancestor Lu took a deep breath as suddenly countless branches grew from under the platform from the soil, supporting the platform.

He let go of his hands, which were in the lifting motion.

The platform moved for a moment before becoming stable in the branches.

Ancestor Lu nodded his head after seeing that the platform was stable enough with the help of the branches. The platform now hovered in the air, a mysterious and imposing structure that commanded attention.

"Those who can climb these and go up to the platform are the only ones who are qualified for the tournament," he announced before returning back to his seat again, casually ignoring the shocked gazes of everyone.

"This person in the middle realm of a first-stage martial artist is so terrifying?" Xia Cao thought expressionlessly. His hands, hidden under his sleeves, were shaking, but he hid his emotions well enough to not express them outwardly.

He was still injured from the poison he had gotten from Ancestor Lu. Although it couldn't be life-threatening, and as long as he was given a month, he could fully recover, he didn't have the luxury of time right now. If he didn't arrive at the tournament, his descendants were sure to lose everything, and it was too important for him.

"I need some allies," he thought to himself as he sent a message to Huang Shi.

Huang Shi frowned when she saw that Xia Cao wanted to contact her. However, she didn't receive his message as she just nodded her head before cancelling the message with her mental power.

The youth snorted, casually taking out his sword from his waist and slashing.

Boom!

The whirlwind and the slash collided. Although the whirlwind had a slight advantage, both attacks got cancelled.

Lu Zhen suddenly appeared from the backside of him, delivering a full-powered punch again, sending the man flying.

"This might be troublesome," he thought bitterly, as he could see the man standing fine even after receiving two full-powered punches.

As expected, the man got up with an even smug smile on his red face, displaying Lu Zhen's palm imprint.

Boom!

Lu Zhen punched again, instantly appearing in the location of the man and delivering another powerful blow.

The man was flung once more but managed to get back on his feet.

Lu Zhen continued his relentless assault, not giving the man any chance to recover, all the while sneering.

"Why should I give time to an enemy?"

This process repeated at least twenty times before it seemed the youth had had enough.

He roared in anger the instant he got back up, releasing his full aura.

Lu Zhen was stunned when he sensed the aura, his eyes widening.

"Second-stage martial artist."

The moment of respite the man gained allowed him to recover from the beating Lu Zhen had delivered, and he madly dashed at Lu Zhen with ferocity. His body was surrounded by faint ripples, showcasing his shield.

However, Lu Zhen remained calm.

"If it was previously when my physique hadn't undergone the change from the void, I would have had no chance but to run, but now..." Lu Zhen sneered in his mind as he head-on collided with the man.

Boom!

They both took five steps back.

However, Lu Zhen reacted faster and instantly reached the man's position.

"Whispering Shadow Step," Lu Zhen muttered as he casually swiped his hand like a saber.

The man hurriedly blocked with his sword, feeling the weight from Lu Zhen's hand as if a saber was pressing down on him.

Suddenly, the man's instincts screamed with danger as he wanted to back away. However, the pressure he felt from Lu Zhen's right hand was so great that if he let go, he would definitely be injured.

He could only helplessly slightly turn his body to avoid his fatal area from Lu Zhen's other hands which gave a faint vision of a spear.